Ruan Dongqing walked to the cattle pen and led out an old yellow cow. With his right hand holding the cow's rope and his left carrying a basket with a fat cat inside, he leisurely made his way down the mountain.

The path down wasn't steep, but it was long and winding, with uneven stone steps. Unlike the smooth steps made by modern machines or concrete, these steps were rough and irregular. Despite his strength, the journey from the ancient courtyard to the foot of the mountain left Ruan Dongqing panting heavily and drenched in sweat.

Even as he caught his breath, he kept talking. To distract himself from fatigue and make the descent easier, he told a Jianghu story full of adventures to his audience: a cow, a dog, and a cat.

At the foot of the mountain, there was a small shed with an ox cart. Ruan Dongqing tied the cow to the cart, placed the basket of Chinese cabbage inside, and picked up small stones from the ground to load onto the cart. After finishing, he stretched lazily, climbed onto the seat, and drove the cart into town, continuing his unfinished story.

Once through the city gate, Ruan Dongqing stopped telling the story. He parked the cart beside a small shop and got off. The shop's young attendant seemed to recognize him and hurried out:

"Young Master Qing, are you here to sell or buy this time?"

"Just here to buy a few things from the market. I'll leave the cart here."

The attendant nodded and habitually took the cow. As Ruan Dongqing picked up the basket, the little dog jumped down, and the attendant led the cart to the back of the house.

This wasn't Ruan Dongqing's first time shopping here. After almost a year, he had started to recognize people around Guanlin Fort. Yet, each time he entered the city, he felt a strange mix of familiarity and unfamiliarity.

It felt familiar because it was no different from countryside where he had spent his childhood and student days. The city gate, houses, tiles, teahouses, and trees all reminded him of home. But it felt unfamiliar because no matter how many times he saw these familiar scenes, this place was ultimately not his hometown. Like a wanderer in a foreign land, longing to return but unable to—who could understand?

Ruan Dongqing sighed, setting aside these thoughts, and briskly walked towards the market.

---

The meat-selling auntie saw him and said cheerfully, "Ah Qing, your vegetables are delicious! Next time you have new ones, remember to save some for me!"

"Hello, auntie! Do you still have pork today? I'll take four catties!"

"Are you buying it to entertain guests or to make jerky for slow enjoyment? By the way, do you know what happened earlier? My sister asked if your husband outside the city knew."

"What happened? I didn't notice anything unusual."

"Auntie isn't too sure either. This morning, just as I opened my stall, the sky turned yellow."

As she spoke, she looked up, as if recalling the scene, then continued, "The elders said it was the city's protective array activating. They said such formations were only triggered long ago when monsters came out of the Bamboo Sea."

"Everyone was in chaos, wanting to go to the Lord's mansion to find out what happened, and then the array collapsed. The sky cleared up again. Then, General Wu Hongliang's voice announced that everyone should continue working and not worry."

"Some speculate that a monster must have come out of the Bamboo Sea and was killed by General Wu. Others say it might be because the array has been neglected for too long. Ten people have ten different ideas. Auntie feels as long as the city stands and we can live peacefully, that's all that matters..."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

The meat-selling auntie paused to catch her breath and gauge Ruan Dongqing's reaction before adding, "I thought you lived outside the city, so you might know more than us city folks! But it seems you don't know anything either. Maybe it’s not a big deal after all?"

While she continued her story, the meat-selling auntie weighed the meat for Ruan Dongqing and wrapped it in banana leaves, saying, "Three catties' worth for you, my dear. Next time you come down to sell vegetables, make it cheaper for your auntie!"

He took the wrapped meat, paid her, exchanged greetings, and left. He could still hear her calling after him, "Oh, and when my pig gives birth, I'll give you one to raise! There'll be meat for the New Year!"

Ruan Dongqing left the meat stall and headed towards the next booth. As he walked, he pondered.

Though he wasn't sure how much of what the meat-selling auntie said was true, if the city's protective array had indeed activated, he couldn't believe nothing significant had occurred. Could it be related to the two old practitioners suddenly dancing and clapping at his home?

He couldn't be sure, but he knew he had to prepare for any surprises. If something unexpected happened, he planned to hide indoors and avoid showing his face. After all, Ruan Dongqing still vividly remembered being isolated for a whole year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

So, Ruan Dongqing went around the market, buying all the necessary household items. He then headed to the chicken coop to buy a few more chickens to raise.

Ruan Dongqing was a graduate in agricultural sciences with several years of research experience. Although he later switched to a clerical job, his knowledge and practical experience in agriculture were enough to ensure he wouldn't go hungry. No wonder the vegetables he grew sold so well in Guanlin Fort.

His years of studying agriculture also taught him that not everything foreign was better than what he knew. In recent years, many foreign farming practices had faced criticism, and the so-called "sustainable agriculture" was essentially an update of traditional methods. His VAC garden was already established and thriving with minimal effort. He speculated that it might be due to the unique soil in this world or the nutrient-rich mineral veins he used for irrigation, but he hadn't investigated further. He still needed to dig the remaining pond and complete the pigsty.

For now, he decided to buy a few more chickens and expand the chicken coop. Once that was done, he would proceed gradually according to the situation.

---

The woman selling chickens was about ten years older than Ruan Dongqing and was a warm-hearted person. Knowing his intentions, she was delighted and picked out a few chickens while saying:

"My chickens are easy to raise, you can rest assured! I'll pick out a healthy rooster and several good egg-laying hens for you. Soon, you'll have a flock of chickens running around your yard!"

On a bamboo bed not far away, the grandmother of the woman selling chickens was sitting, chewing betel nut. The old lady, nearing seventy, was complaining about the city's children. Ruan Dongqing faintly heard snippets of her conversation, such as:

"These children have no one to teach them..."

"All the teachers we invite are scared away..."

After completing his purchases, the sun was already past its zenith. He hoisted a stack of grains and various household items, along with a couple of squawking chicken cages, and briskly headed toward the ox cart.

---

A shop assistant spotted Ruan Dongqing from afar and quickly brought the cart over to him, warmly saying:

"Young Master Qing, back from your stroll around the streets?" Glancing at Ruan Dongqing's load, he added, "Wow, you've bought so much this time. Are you planning to start a farm?"

Ruan Dongqing greeted him with a smile, then placed the items on the cart and pulled out some coins.

"For you."

The assistant eagerly took the money, stashing it away, and then asked:

"Does Young Master Qing need any further assistance?"

Seeing Ruan Dongqing shake his head, the young man turned and hurried back into the shop.

Ruan Dongqing busied himself for a while, organizing the newly purchased items into the cart. Just as he lifted two small animals to place them inside, a group of soldiers came running up.

"Sir, General Wu requests your presence at the mansion!"

Ruan Dongqing was startled. In his year here, he had heard of General Wu Songlin, the commander of Guanlin Fort. According to the townsfolk, he was a practitioner who had protected the city from demons, bandits, and outlaws for many years. He was known for his integrity but also for being rigid about the law. Could it be... they discovered his status as an "illegal immigrant" and now wanted to question him?

In truth, Ruan Dongqing didn't want to live in secrecy like this. When he went to register his residency, how could he answer questions about where he lived? Make up a name casually, and what if it was discovered as a lie, leading to charges and imprisonment? Ruan Dongqing feared trouble, so he kept avoiding such situations.

The lead soldier stepped forward again and said:

"Sir, please don't make it difficult for us. General Wu requests your presence at the mansion."

Ruan Dongqing finally came to his senses, blushing:

"I dare not, please don't call me 'Sir', I don't dare to accept such an address!" Then he added, "Please lead the way, sir!"

Since he couldn't evade this, he might as well see what General Wu wanted to discuss. If worse came to worst and he was expelled, he would leave his current residence and wander elsewhere.